A La Trobe University teacher is concerned the institution's major restructure will disadvantage rural students.

Linda Kirkman has been a casual teacher in health and education at La Trobe's Bendigo campus for 12 years.

Ms Kirkman said the restructure, kick-started with proposed changes on Monday, would involve a move towards online teaching.

She said online teaching was not what many students from rural areas wanted.

"They want and need the face to face teaching," she said.

"The cohort we have is one with great passion but under developed skills.

"It's important that cuts don't deny students the supports they need to achieve their goals."

A statement released by the university on Monday afternoon also said some staff would lose their jobs.

Ms Kirkman said it was possible she would lose her position by next semester.

La Trobe University media spokesperson Tim Mitchell said Monday marked the beginning of management's consultation process with staff, and the full details of the restructure were yet to be confirmed.

Mr Mitchell said the changes addressed in the university's statement had been spoken about for some time and were open for scrutiny and negotiation with the staff.

He confirmed there would be job losses and changes were motivated by a need to be more efficient with resources. "This has been long thought about and well-considered and has been discussed with staff in detail since August 2013."